After hiking and biking across the terrain of California this summer, Syracuse Crunch head coach Rob Zettler is ready to get back into the real fun.

He'll get the chance within the next week.

Zettler is leaving for Tampa Bay's rookie camp on Sept. 3. He will coach practice Sept. 4 and 5, and then run the Lightning's entry in the Coral Springs Rookie Tournament.

Zettler worked with the prospects earlier this summer, at Tampa Bay's development camp.

"I've talked to a bunch of players over the summer, (he's looking forward to) probably just to see their fitness level,'' Zettler said Tuesday. "The other part is to see some of the young guys. It will be fun to see the kids. It's good to get back. This week is really starting to ramp up. It's getting close.''

Zettler said the instruction during the rookie portion of the camp will be kept simple.

"You can't throw too much at them, I think, at least in rookie camp,'' Zettler said. "We'll throw a couple things at them. Basically, in rookie camp, it's let the kids go and play. There will be some kids that are fun to watch.''

On Sept. 23, the players who comprise the Crunch will fly straight from Tampa Bay to St. John's, Newfoundland, where the team will compete against the IceCaps in the three-game Mary Brown Cup tournament.

The Crunch won that tournament last preseason, and also got in some paint ball team bonding competition as well. Zettler said he's still deciding what sort of off-ice activities the Crunch will do this season.

Zettler also confirmed that Mike Angelidis will retain his role as team captain, a job he held last season. He also said defenseman J.P. Cote will get an A. He said the other A is still up for grabs.

Since J.T. Wyman is gone and assuming Mark Barberio makes the Lightning, who would you give the third letter to?